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they are neat。 All that can be said against his worst is that they are stupid。
He might have translated Metastasio tolerably。 But he was utterly unable
to do justice to the
〃rime e aspre e chiocce； 〃Come si converrebbe al tristo buco。〃 （Inferno；
canto xxxii。）
I turn with pleasure from these wretched performances to Mr Cary's
translation。 It is a work which well deserves a separate discussion； and
on which； if this article were not already too long； I could dwell with great
pleasure。 At present I will only say that there is no other version in the
world； as far as I know； so faithful； yet that there is no other version which
so fully proves that the translator is himself a man of poetical genius。
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Those who are ignorant of the Italian language should read it to become
acquainted with the Divine Comedy。 Those who are most intimate with
Italian literature should read it for its original merits： and I believe that
they will find it difficult to determine whether the author deserves most
praise for his intimacy with the language of Dante； or for his extraordinary
mastery over his own。
。。。
CRITICISMS ON THE
PRINCIPAL ITALIAN WRITERS。
No。 II。 PETRARCH。
（April 1824）
Et vos； o lauri； carpam； et te； proxima myrte； Sic positae quoniam
suaves miscetis odores。 Virgil。
It would not be easy to name a writer whose celebrity； when both its
extent and its duration are taken into the account； can be considered as
equal to that of Petrarch。 Four centuries and a half have elapsed since his
death。 Yet still the inhabitants of every nation throughout the western
world are as familiar with his character and his adventures as with the
most illustrious names； and the most recent anecdotes； of their own
literary history。 This is indeed a rare distinction。 His detractors must
acknowledge that it could not have been acquired by a poet destitute of
merit。 His admirers will scarcely maintain that the unassisted merit of
Petrarch could have raised him to that eminence which has not yet been
attained by Shakspeare； Milton； or Dante；that eminence； of which
perhaps no modern writer； excepting himself and Cervantes； has long
retained possession； an European reputation。
It is not difficult to discover some of the causes to which this great
man has owed a celebrity； which I cannot but think disproportioned to his
real claims on the admiration of mankind。 In the first place； he is an egotist。
Egotism in conversation is universally abhorred。 Lovers； and； I believe；
lovers alone； pardon it in each other。 No services； no talents； no powers
of pleasing； render it endurable。 Gratitude； admiration； interest； fear；
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scarcely prevent those who are condemned to listen to it from indicating
their disgust and fatigue。 The childless uncle； the powerful patron can
scarcely extort this compliance。 We leave the inside of the mail in a
storm； and mount the box； rather than hear the history of our companion。
The chaplain bites his lips in the presence of the archbishop。 The
midshipman yawns at the table of the First Lord。 Yet； from whatever
cause； this practice； the pest of conversation； gives to writing a zest which
nothing else can impart。 Rousseau made the boldest experiment of this
kind； and it fully succeeded。 In our own time Lord Byron； by a series of
attempts of the same nature； made himself the object of general interest
and admiration。 Wordsworth wrote with egotism more intense； but less
obvious； and he has been rewarded with a sect of worshippers；
comparatively small in number； but far more enthusiastic in their devotion。
It is needless to multiply instances。 Even now all the walks of literature
are infested with mendicants for fame； who attempt to excite our interest
by exhibiting all the distortions of their intellects； and stripping the
covering from all the putrid sores of their feelings。 Nor are there wanting
many who push their imitation of the beggars whom they resemble a step
further； and who find it easier to extort a pittance from the spectator； by
simulating deformity and debility from which they are exempt； than by
such honest labour as their health and strength enable them to perform。
In the meantime the credulous public pities and pampers a nuisance which
requires only the treadmill and the whip。 This art； often successful when
employed by dunces； gives irresistible fascination to works which possess
intrinsic merit。 We are always desirous to know something of the character
and situation of those whose writings we have perused with pleasure。 The
passages in which Milton has alluded to his own circumstances are
perhaps read more frequently； and with more interest； than any other lines
in his poems。 It is amusing to observe with what labour critics have
attempted to glean from the poems of Homer； some hints as to his
situation and feelings。 According to one hypothesis； he intended to
describe himself under the name of Demodocus。 Others maintain that he
was the identical Phemius whose life Ulysses spared。 This propensity of
the human mind explains； I think； in a great degree； the extensive
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popularity of a poet whose works are little else than the expression of his
personal feelings。
In the second place； Petrarch was not only an egotist； but an amatory
egotist。 The hopes and fears； the joys and sorrows； which he described；
were derived from the passion which of all passions exerts the widest
influence； and which of all passions borrows most from the imagination。
He had also another immense advantage。 He was the first eminent
amatory poet who appeared after the great convulsion which had changed；
not only the political； but the moral； state of the world。 The Greeks； who；
in their public institutions and their literary tastes； were diametrically
opposed to the oriental nations； bore a considerable resemblance to those
nations in their domestic habits。 Like them； they despised the intellects
and immured the persons of their women； and it was among the least of
the frightful evils to which this pernicious system gave birth； that all the
accomplishments of mind； and all the fascinations of manner； which； in a
highly cultivated age； will generally be necessary to attach men to their
female associates； were monopolised by the Phrynes and the Lamais。
The indispensable ingredients of honourable and chivalrous love were
nowhere to be found united。 The matrons and their daughters confined in
the harem；insipid； uneducated； ignorant of all but the mechanical arts；
scarcely seen till they were married；could rarely excite interest；
afterwards their brilliant rivals； half Graces； half Harpies； elegant and
informed； but fickle and rapacious； could never inspire respect。 The state
of society in Rome was； in this point； far happier； and the Latin literature
partook of the superiority。 The Roman poets have decidedly surpassed
those of Greece in the delineation of the passion of love。 There is no
subject which they have treated with so much success。 Ovid； Catullus；
Tibullus； Horace； and Propertius； in spite of all their faults； must be
allowed to rank high in this department of the art。 To these I would add